PUTRAJAYA – The disputed Ambalat maritime zone is expected to be discussed at the upcoming Malaysia–Indonesia Annual Consultation in Jakarta on July 29, said Government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, as concerns mount over the proposal of a joint development of the resource-rich area.
Speaking at a press conference following the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Fahmi said the annual consultation has long served as a platform for both countries to deliberate key bilateral issues, including unresolved maritime boundaries.
“This annual consultation process has always served as an important platform for both nations to exchange views and establish direction on various issues. Ambalat is not a new topic, and I expect it to be part of the discussion,” he said.
He also clarified that the upcoming discussions should be seen as the beginning of negotiations rather than a final resolution.
“As the Prime Minister has mentioned, there are many considerations, including technical issues. The discussions at the end of July will be a starting point, not the end.”
Fahmi’s comments come amid concerns raised following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s joint statement with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta last week, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation—including potential joint economic initiatives in maritime border areas such as Ambalat.
“If it appears that there is still a bit of a deadlock in negotiations in terms of principles, regulations and laws, then there is no obstacle for us to accelerate economic cooperation including what (Prabawo) mentioned earlier regarding the joint development authority.
“Even in the Ambalat area, if we wait to finish it, it might take another two decades. So let’s take advantage of this time to get results to benefit both countries and defend the fate of our people in an area that is quite far from the border,” Anwar said on June 27.
Sabah leaders demand consultation
The Prime Minister’s remarks have triggered a raft of criticism in Sabah, where state leaders are questioning the alleged lack of consultation over what they see as a matter of territorial sovereignty.
Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said Sabah’s interests must not be sidelined, particularly on issues concerning its maritime boundaries.
“Ambalat has already been decided as an area within Sabah’s territory. Why was this decision made without consulting Sabah? That is not right. It is another way of bypassing Sabah’s rights,” he said, as quoted by the Borneo post yesterday.
Expressing disappointment over the Federal Government’s approach, Jeffrey said he would seek clarification directly from the Prime Minister in Parliament.
“We need an explanation, and I will submit a question in Parliament regarding Ambalat, specifically to seek clarification from the Prime Minister. We will wait for his response.”
Opposition raises sovereignty concerns
Opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional (PN) has also called for greater transparency over the matter. Its leader, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, said the government must present full details of any proposed joint development arrangement and allow the Sulawesi Sea Treaty signed in 2023 to be debated in Parliament.
“The sovereignty and interests of Malaysia over every inch of its territory, particularly in the oil- and gas-rich Ambalat Block, must be asserted and defended,” said the Larut MP in a statement posted on Facebook.
He warned that hastily entering a joint development agreement while sovereignty remains in dispute could undermine national interests.
“What is more troubling is that the announcement of joint development in Ambalat appears inconsistent with several of the Prime Minister’s previous statements in Parliament, including on the Sulawesi Treaty and Ambalat,” Hamzah added.
Ambalat: A long-standing maritime dispute
Located in the Sulawesi Sea off Sabah’s east coast, the Ambalat Block spans 15,235 square kilometres and is believed to contain substantial oil and gas reserves. Both Malaysia and Indonesia claim the area, citing different legal and historical bases.
Indonesia’s claim is rooted in the 1957 Djuanda Declaration and its 1980 maritime zoning, while Malaysia refers to its 1979 national map and the International Court of Justice’s 2002 ruling awarding the nearby Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia. However, Malaysia’s 1979 map has been the subject of criticism from several Asean countries for overstepping maritime boundaries.
Seismic surveys and resource assessments have been carried out on both sides, and the rights to the region’s continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) remain unresolved.
Sulawesi Sea Treaty not a final fix
On June 8, 2023, Malaysia and Indonesia signed the Sulawesi Sea Treaty, which partially delimits the territorial seas between the two countries. However, the treaty does not address the EEZ or continental shelf claims, meaning core disputes such as Ambalat remain unresolved.
The treaty is part of broader efforts to define maritime boundaries in the region and is distinct from the United Nations-backed High Seas Treaty, which focuses on protecting biodiversity in international waters. – July 2, 2025